Hang-up apparatus



June 2 1925. 1,540,722

, c. c. COLBERT ET AL HANG-UP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6. 1923 Sheeis-Shat 1I June 2, 1925.

C. C. COLBERT .ET AL HANG-UP ABPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet2 PatentedJune 2, 1925.

CHARLES 0. counter nn enoncn E. 1 To urnames .coa'rme .MILLS, on DIA A;

EL ART; InnI HANG-UP; nrrnnAmosq Application filed flctober 6, 1923.-Serial No. 666,900.

To callwizomt may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. COLBERT and Gnonen E. PnnsToN, citizensof the United States, and residents ofElkhart, in the county of Elkhartand State of Indiana, have invented an Improvement in Hang-Up Apparatus,of 'WhlCli the followingfiis a specification.

paratusemployed for hanging up sheet material, such 'fo'rj instance aspaper board,

coated papeifor the like, .-.during,:storage, seasoning, drying or othertreatment.

. Among other ob ects theinventlon v1s.1n-

r tended to provide a practicable and conven ient hang-up apparatus inwhich comparatively stiff material may 'beisuspended without unduebending at theupoints' of suspension; i i

The invention will be clearly understood by reference to oneillustrative apparatus embodying the invention, which is shown inthe'iannexeddrawings. Y I

Insaiddrawi'ngs: .i

Fig. 1 is a side view o-f 'the illustrative apparatus. I I.

Fig; 2 is a plan view thereof:

Fig, 3 is a'detail view representing successive folds'o-f material eachsupportedby groups orpairs' of 'sticks. i'

F ig. tis' edema view 'showing the ejector wheel-drive andaportion ofthereturn conveyor of thersticksadapted for circulating two sticks at atime. i

Fig. 5 is a detail-view ofa deadfrack-ra'il embodied in the apparatus,with dotted lines indicating the elevated position of the rail. I 7

Fig. 6 isa cross-section on the line 66 0fFig.5.

The illustrative apparatus, in which continuous material 1hangsinfestoons or folds. comprises means including a supply of sticks 2for carryingsaid 'material on transa verse sup-ports provided; by-pluralities or groups of said sticks. In this instance, the individualsupports from which the material hangs are provided-bysticks assembledin pairs. The sticks preferably consist of round Wooden poles or thelike, the ends of which may be flattened to enable them to restnpon;appropriate supporting or carrying means without tendency to roll U I 1ing festoons of material while the This invention relates to the classofiap-r" of. the j apparatus and Withdrawn; delivery end, the sticksare, causedto travel riati'on in the number of or turn thereon. Byutilizing such. in pairs orpluralities for the purpose stated,

rnnsmoiv, or maximum, Imam, assrenons': v

ANA, A CORPORATION or in;

comparatively thickv or stiifmaterial suchfor instance asheavy paperboard may-be.

suspended in the apparatus without sharp bending over itss'upports. Forcollectinga desired supply are is. being introduced intoQt-he receivingend from itsin a circuitous course, and to permit vause, accompanyingvariation in 'the ac cumulationof hanging festoons of material 1n theapparatus, a reserve supply of. Said. sticks. 1s lnterposed 1n saidcourse. The; sticks are. dlscharged into saldii'eserve supmaterial;

sticks in operative ply after. withdrawal :of,the materialsfromf thesticks; and are returned into circulation in pairs or'groups forhanglngup and conveylng the material. ,The I specific means employed injtheillustrative;machineyfor these purposes will ip-resently. 'be described.

The material .1 may be continuously sup: plied from a producing ortreatingmachine, andmay be delivered t'of'the hang-up apparatus by aconveyor'3 or-over a -rollerwor other means at an'appropiiate elevationfor thein-feedingfof the,material. V

For hanging up the material,las it-is ide= liveredto the apparatus,thepairsof sticks 2 are successively brought .underfsthe material atappropriate intervals of timeto allow desired lengths of the material-toisag between the successively presented pairs and between the conveyorroller 4 and the pair of sticks being carried into use, 'asshown inFig.1. This is performed in the'illustrative-ap paratus-by endlesselevating chains'5,running at an upward inclination, andliavingappropriately spaced lugs 6 the pairs of sticks.

for supporting The elevating" chains take up the 'sticksgfrom holders 7to which the sticks are successively introduced in groups or pairs bymeans hereinafter described. These holders 7 are shownassemisprocketwheels of the elevating'c'hains. i

circular guideways coaxialwith ;the:lower parallel endless chains- 8,appropriatelyw l spaced for supporting the ends of the sticks whileallowing the festoons of material tohang between the chains. 7

The parallel chains 8 are'adapted to carry the pairs of stickslongitudinally of the apparatus and, if desired, may have aconsiderablyslower rate of movement than the elevating chains, so as tocause the pairs of sticks to be deposited upon the chains 8 at closerintervals and consequently to hang the material in closer folds.

The chains 8 typify conveying means of any desired length and characteralong which the material accumulates in hanging festoons or folds. Saidconveying means may if desired comprise successive pairs of carrierchains, running at the same or different speeds for varying the widthsof the fe'stoons, and may be associated with any appropriate -means forexposing the material conveyed to the action of a heating medium-orother treating means during its transportation through the hang-upapparatus. v y 7 From the accumulated supply 'of slack material hangingin the hang-up apparatus, the material may be 'continuous1y' w ithdrawneither for subsequent treatment in the course of its manufacture or forreeling in the case of finished material. It may be desirable to varythe amount of accumulation in the han up apparatus for the purposeofcontrolling a periodo-f seasoning, drying or othertreatment of thehanging material, or for accommodating the accumulation to conditionsarising in the operation of plant in which the apparatus is include. j

For example, Where the illustrative apparatus is arrangedbetween amachine for producing raw paper, paper board or the like and asubsequent machine for coloring or otherwise-treating the material, itis desirable in event of temporary,interruption of such subsequentmachine to permit continuous operation of the producing machine withcontinuing delivery to and accumulation of the material in the hang-upappara tus, without necessitating continued withdrawal of thematerial'therefrom. On the other hand, where the hang-up apparatusreceives. material from apreceding treating machine and delivers teafinishing machine. it is desirable in event of temporary interruption ofoperation of said treating machine to havean ample reserve supply ofmaterial in the hang-up apparatus from which the finishing machine maycontinue to'draw its supply. I 1

I The illustrative hang-up apparatus embodies provision for variationiofaccumulating capacity in several ways; In event of any interruption orslowing of opera tion in asucceeding machine or unit of the plant,thereby interrupting or; slowing the withdrawal of material from thedelivery end of the apparatus, the hanging folds of material can crowdtogether in said delivery end asrep-resented in Fig. 1, and as will beexplained more fully hereinafter. Considerable variation of accumulationmay also be obtained by a speed adjustment hereinafter described. Inaddition to these provisions, a large reserve supply of the hangingmaterial may be stored at will in the hang-up apparatus by the means nowto be described.

Associated with the carrier chains 8 is a dead rack comprisinglongitudinal rails or bars 9, one beside each of the parallel chains(Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 These dead rack bars 9 are supported so as topermit them to be depressed below the levels of the carrying runs of thechains, in the position shown in Fig. 5, which istheir normal position,or to be elevated above the chains in the position indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 5. The rear ends of said bars are bevelled or inclined asindicated at 10 so that, when the bars are in the elevated positionindicated by dotted linesin'Fig. 5, the pairs of sticks 2 carrying thefestoons of material may ride onto the dead rack bars, after which thepairs will be pushed along said bars one by the other, as represented inFig. 1. Thus a large number of festoons or hanging folds of material maybe accumulated closely on the dead rack. The delivery ends of the deadrack bars are shown provided with curved extensions 11 which in theelevated position of the bars will-overlie the sprocket wheels at thedelivery ends of the carrier chains and permit the sticks to bedischarged from the delivery end of the dead rack.

In the specific construction shown in the drawings, the dead rack bars 9are pivoted at their receiving ends to suitable supports, indicated at12 (Fig. 5), while their delivery end portions are carried by hangers 13suspended from'cranked portions of a crank shaft 14 journalled inbearings 15 in the upper framework 16 of the hang-up apparatus (Figs. 5and 6). One of the cranked portions of the crank shaft 14 isprovidedwith an operating lever 17 which may be operated in one direction. orthe other by pull cords 1S and 19. By thismeans the cranked portions ofthe crank shaft may be moved to a position of dead centers with respectto the bearings of the crank shaft, thus supporting the dead rack bars 9in elevated position, and the parts may be maintained in this positionby maintaining the pull cords 18 and 19 taut and fastening them at anyconvenient place.

One or more additional reserve racks of the character described may ifdesired be provided in advance of that shown, so as further to increasethe storage capacity of the hang-up apparatus if required. For instance,if the withdrawal of the material from the hang-up apparatus should besuspended for a longer period than that required tofill the dead rackshown 1n the drawings, a preceding similarrack maybe brought into play,so that the successively advancing pairs of sticks carrying the festoonsofmaterial will ride onto said preceding rack and collect in closerelation before being redelivered to the conveyor chains.

At the delivery end of the illustrative hang-up apparatus (Figs. 1 and2), means are provided to facilitate withdrawal'of the material from theaccumulated supply hung up in said apparatus. For this purpose thecarrier chains 8 deliver the groups or pairs of sticks carrying thesuspended folds. of materialupon declined deliver chains 20, from whichthe sticks are delivered to de- 'clined rails 21 arranged beside saidchains and gradually rising to an elevation; above the chains to permitthe'groupsof stlcks to ride from the chains onto said rails; The

suspended materialis withdrawn from the pairs of sticks resting on saidrails, while 'thesticks slide down the rails and are dis a charged.

If the dead rack bars 9iare depressed,

shown in Fig. 5, the pairs of sticksq2 will ride from thezchains 8 ontov hechains20. andthence onto the rails 21, and the sticks will be causedto slide down the rails under the drag of thenhanging material as it iswithdrawn by a succeeding treating, finishing, reeling or other machine.If the with drawal of the material should be interruptedbyitemporaryinterruption in the operation of a succeeding unit oftheplant, the groups of sticks with the hanging folds of material may crowdtogether and accumnlat enon the declined rails 21 as shown in Figrnlrildthe interruption of withdrawal is fora longer period than that whichcan be accommodated by the accumulating capacity of said rails, whilethe material is being continuously' supplied to and hung uplntheapparatus, the dead rack bars 9-should beelevated, as alreadyexplained, allowing the successively advancing pairs ofsticks carryingthe festoons of material to collect in crowded assembly on said bars, asshown in Fig. 1. 1 q i Upon resumption of operation in the succeedingunit of the plant, with accompanying resumption of'the withdrawal of thematerial from the hang-up apparatus, the dead rack bars may be depressedto allow the sticks to; rest again upon the conveying chains 8,whiclrwill deliver the crowded pairs of sticks onto the chains 20 andthence onto therails 21; and the operation of said succeeding unit maybe temporarily speeded up to eiiect a more rapid withdrawalf-ofthematerial until the excess accumulation is V drawn ofl? and normalconditions restored.

. other to eflecttheir ejection The rails 21 retard thetravel ofthesticks,

and offer a desirable frictional resistance to the movement of thesticks-as. the sagging mate-rial 1s withdrawn therefrom. Furthermore,under various conditions, these rails permit the groups ofst'icks toaccumulate one or more behind until the withdrawal folds suspendedbetween successive groups,

another during and thus avoiding continued travel of. the sticks duringthe withdrawa. .1

The pull of-the material as itis-withj drawn from the hang-up apparatusdrags of the board from the groups of sticks down the inclined rails Jand causes themto slide down the rails and material from the successivefolds, there is provided a suspended or swinging wiper 22(Fig.,-l),-such for instance as a sheet of carpet or other suitableflexible material,

which rests-upon and drags against 'the-maand to prevent jerking of theterial and exerts a retardingaction on the sticks. :Thusthematerial is.withdrawn against theresistance of the swinging wiper 22 and: ot thesticks 1111 frictional contact withthe declined" rails 21, contributingto smoothand even withdrawal. j I -lhe material may, be iwithdrawn fromthe hang-up. cp paratus overia' guide roller 23,

while :the sticks slide'down the rails 21 onto the delivery-ends'oflthechains 20 and are deposited into a magazine comprising;

parallel guides 24E-which are zig-zag shaped to break the fall ofthesticks j (Figs. "1 and it) anilihecsti'cks pile one upon another in them ans; in which a reserve supply of *the sticks cessively ejected fromthe lower .end of the magazine by rotating 1 wheels 25 having ejectinglugs 26 shown arranged in pairs for ejecting the sticks one immediatelyafterwanice maintained,'and the sticks aresucin pairs. To-per-- mitejection, the lowerends otthe magazines guides 2lare shown. constructedwith feet 27 to support the sticks and with ejecting openings 28*(Fig.4). i

The ejected pairs oigroups of sticks are carried by'a return conveyor 29backto the receiving end of the hang-up equipment. Said return conveyoris shown as a pair of i is parallel chains provided at suitableinterva-ls with lugs 30for engaging and forwarding the sticks.successively ejected from the magazine, swinging bumpers 31 knockagainst the As the pairsof sticks are i i sticks-to steady them'andprevent them from being thrown too far. straightening or aligning thepairs ofsticks crosswise on the "return conveyor, inclined obstructors32 are arranged in the path'of As a means for the sticks, over which thesticks must ride, thus insuring their lodgment against the lugs 30 ofthe return conveyor chains and their delivery to the receiving end ofthe hang-up apparatus in proper transverse alignment.

At the receiving end of the hang-up equipment, the return conveyor 29delivers the pairs of sticks into the curved guideways 7, associatedwith the lower sprocket wheels of the elevating chains 5, and the lugs 6of the elevating chains pick up the pairs of sticks and carry themsuccessively under or into position for hanging up the in-feedingmaterial as before explained.

Thus the sticks are circulated back and forth through the hang-upapparatus in groups or pairs, and a reserve supply of sticks ismaintained inthe magazine 24k, to permit variation in the number ofsticks employed at a given time according to conditions existing as tocapacity of accumulation of the material, as determined by speedadjustment, by adjustment of the reserve rack bars 9 or otherconditions.

It will be understood that the organization of the illustrativeapparatus is such that the desired groups of sticks, in this instancegroups of two, are ejected from the magazine guides 24 at suitableintervals of time to be successively engaged and forwarded by thesuccessive lugs 30 of the return conveyor 29, and are thereby deliveredone group after another into the curved guide 7 at proper periods to beengaged and picked up by the successively advancing lugs 6 of theelevating chains 5.

Such utilization of pairs or groups of sticks as individual supports isespecially advantageous in hanging up certain .kinds of material such asvery heavy or' stifi-board when it is desired to relieve the bending ofthe board.

The several endless chains constituting the stick conveying system ofthe apparatus may have their upper runs supported on suitable rails 33as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, for the upper run of the chain 8, and maybe associated with side rails 34; for guiding the ends of the sticks andfor preventing the sticks from shifting lengthwise, i. e., transverselyof the hang-up apparatus. Idle sprockets or guide wheels 35 for guid ingthe lower runs of the chains may be provided as required.

The means shown in the drawings for driving the conveying system of theillustrative hang-up apparatus is as follows:

The elevating chains 5 are trained at their upper ends around drivingsprockets 36 aflixed on stub shafts 37, driven by gearing 38 from anoverhead shaft 39 (Figs. 1 and 2). On the same stub shafts 37 are loosesprocket wheels 40 around which are trained the receiving ends ofthelongitudinally running carrier chains 8. Said chains 8 are trained atthe-irdelivery ends around driving sprockets 11 affixed on stub shafts42 driven by gearing 43 from an overhead shaft 14 (Figs. 1 and 2). Onthe same stub shafts 42- are afiixed driving sprockets 4.5 for thedeclined delivery chains 20. Should the longitudinalconveying meanscomprise more than a single pair of chains, for in stance, successivepairs of chains, as may be desired in a lengthy conveying'system, eachpair of such chains may be trained at their delivery ends around drivingsprockets, coaxial with drivensprockets for the receiving ends of thenext pair of chains, such driving and driven sprockets being mountedfast and loose on stub shafts driven by gearing from an overhead shaft,in the same manner as explained in reference to the chains 5 and chains8, the delivery and receiving ends of which are respectively trainedaround the coaxial fast and loose sprockets 36 and f0 on the stub shafts37 driven from overhead shaft 39. In the case of conveying meanscomprising such successive pairs of chains, the several overheadshaftsmay be driven by transmission chains one from another, and at thesame or varying speeds as desired. In the illustrative apparatus, wherethe longitudinal conveying means comprises the single pair of carrierchains 8, the overhead shaft 44 atthe delivery section ofthe apparatusis driven by an endless chain 16 from the overhead shaft 39 at thereceiving section; and said overhead shaft 39 isdriven by a. chain 47from a shaft &8 shown located below the floor of the plant (Figs. 1 and2).

Referring to the return conveyor 29, at its receiVing ..-end, i. e., atthe delivery end of the hangiupgiapparatus, the return conveyor chainsare trained around driven sprockets 49 on a shaft 50, from which shaft50 the shaft 51 of the ejecting wheels 25 is driven by a chain 52 (Figs.2 and 4). By employing a slack driving chain 52, the ejector wheels maybe operated with an intermittent jerking action for effectivelydischarging the sticks, the resistance to ejection due to the weight ofthe superimposed pile of'sticks in the magazine will retard the rotation.of the ejector wheels until thechain 52, driven by the comparativelyslow running shaft 50, stretches or becomes taut in its lower run,thereby imparting a sudden rotation or jerk to the ejector wheelscausing them to eject the sticks and to overrun the chain drive so as toslacken the lower run while the upper run becomes taut tocheck therotation of the ejector wheels. As soon as the chainbecomes taut in itslower run, the upper run becoming slack, the actionis repeated, and soon.

At the delivery end of the return conveyor, i. e., at the receiving endof the hang-

